Mercedes/McLaren SLR crashed!

The new R4-million McLaren Mercedes Benz SLR, brought from Germany to Cape Town for an official launch, was hit by a VW Golf while being test driven in the city on Tuesday.

According to witnesses cited by the Cape Times, the Golf "sped through a red light" and hit the SLR, a left-hand drive, on the front right-hand side.

The Cape Times reports the 1700kg SLR, which is made of immensely strong carbon fibre and has intelligent crumple zones, sustained minimal damage. The Golf had to be towed away.

Eight SLRs are in Cape Town for the press launch at the V&A Waterfront’s Cape Grace Hotel on Wednesday. Around 140 international motoring journalists have been test driving the vehicle in the city, according to the daily.

The SLR, with a top speed of 334 kilometres per hour, has a supercharged Mercedez-enz AMG 5.5-litre V8, and takes 3.8 seconds to accelerate to 100 kilometres per hour.

The 1700kg SLR, which is made of immensely strong carbon fibre and has intelligent crumple zones, sustained minimal damage.

That car is crazy tough. It hardly looks damaged at all from the pictures. I guess you need that kind of strength if you're driving 334km/h.

I feel sorry for the driver of the golf. His car had to be towed away AND he hit one of the nicest cars in the city. I bet "minimal damage" still equates to at least $10000... And still that's less than 1/50th of the value of the car.

If that was a photoshop it's a damn good one. Look at teh reflection of the guy in the back left corner on the rear windows and rear fender of the car. Plus look at teh shadow on the drivers seat - I think it's from teh guy on the far right of the picture. Also, teh reflection of the VW's hood in the black paint is pretty nice. I'm thinking this pic is real....